Amherst, MA

Amherst, Massachusetts

Introduction to Amherst, Massachusetts

The town of Amherst lies in the Connecticut River valley in Western Massachusetts, about 87 miles east of the state capital of Boston and 23 miles west of the city of Springfield. The town is home to the main campus of the University of Massachusetts (UMass) and is also home to Amherst College and Hampshire College. Unusual for towns of its size, Amherst maintains a traditional town meeting form of government, although the annual meeting is made up of elected representatives of each of the town's 254 precincts. Recent attempts to switch to a mayor-council form of government were rejected by voters in the town.

Originally settled in the 1730s as part of what is now the neighboring town of Hadley, Amherst became recognized in 1759 as a separate entity and was incorporated as a town in 1775. It was named in honor of Lord Jeffery Amherst, a hero of the French and Indian War. From its inception the town's focus was directed on education, an emphasis brought to fruition by the evolution of Amherst College from the former Amherst Academy in 1821, and the establishment in 1863 of the Massachusetts Agricultural School, later to become the University of Massachusetts. Over the years, Amherst has been home to an unusually large number of notable literary figures. Emily Dickinson was an Amherst native who spent her entire life as a town resident. Noah Webster, of Webster's dictionary fame, lived in the town, as did 20th century poets Robert Frost and Robert Francis and 19th century poet Eugene Field.

Attractions in and around Amherst

Amherst and its surrounding area are alive with many venues for cultural, artistic, musical, and theatrical expression. The Dickinson Homestead, birthplace and lifelong residence of poet Emily Dickinson, is now the site of the Emily Dickinson Museum. The Theodore Baird Residence is noteworthy for its architecture, which bears the stamp of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Fine Arts Center, located on the University of Massachusetts campus, is a hub of visual and performing arts, housing a large collection of artistic exhibits and hosting a wide range of musical, dance, and theatrical events. The Amherst History Museum features period rooms and special exhibits, and offers programs and events for all ages. The Pratt Museum of Natural History, located on the Amherst College campus, houses a comprehensive collection of artifacts including fossils, minerals, and geological items.

The University of Massachusetts athletic teams, known as the Minutemen, belong to the Atlantic Ten Conference (and the Hockey East Association). Beginning in 2007, the University's football team (along with the other Atlantic Ten football teams) will switch its conference affiliation to the newly-formed Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Minutemen compete in NCAA's Division I-A (Division I-AA for football). UMass has been especially prominent in the sport of basketball, having held the number one ranking in national polls for extended periods during the 1990s. Notable alumni include former NBA superstar Julius Erving.

Pro sports can be found about 30 minutes west in the city of Springfield, home to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League (AHL). The adjacent town of West Springfield is home to the Massachusetts Twisters of the American Indoor Soccer League (AISL). The city of Boston, about 90 minutes away, is home to Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox, the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins, the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics, and Major League Lacrosse's Boston Cannons.

High Points

Amherst strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Massachusetts):

Category	Trophy
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 1%
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 1%
Low Property Crime (vs. Peers)	Top 3%
Short Commute Times (vs. State)	Top 5%
Racial Diversity (vs. State)	Top 5%
Public Transportation Use (vs. Peers)	Top 14%

Comparative Profile of Amherst, MA

Comparing Amherst to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Massachusetts (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Women
Female Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Well-Paid Single Men
Male Share of the Population
Senior Citizens
Children Under 5 Years Old
Age of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Walking and Biking to Work
Working at Home
Public Transportation Use
Short Commute Times

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
People Living Alone
Housing Recently Built
Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Amherst Almanac

Amherst Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Amherst Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Amherst, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Amherst Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Starbucks in Amherst

Amherst High Schools (2004)

AMHERST REGIONAL HIGH
21 MATTOON STREET
413-362-1701
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 1,378 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 13.5

Amherst Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Amherst College

Hampshire College

University of Massachusetts Amherst

(List of All Massachusetts Colleges)

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